Zoaroblems with new radions

gdubs97 · 05/08/2012, 10:00 PM

Title says it all. Lol should say "zoa problems"

I have had them for about 2 months or so over my 120. I had a 6 light t5 prior and my tank was a zoa multiplier and was getting great growth on sps as well.

I'm still getting great growth on my sps with my radions but he zoas are another story. I would say 80% of them have suffered. Most of them have exulted on the zoas becoming "long and strong like". I kno zoas sometimes come and go but I'm positive the radions have been the sole source of my zoas deteriorating.

FYI I have intensity at 75%.

Another buddy in my reef club has the lights and the same issue

An ideas?

Beefy_Reefy · 05/09/2012, 03:56 AM

How many radions do you have? How far off water are the radions? Where are the zoas placement in tank? I have a 150g 5f long 2f w 2f h tank with 3 radions and my zoas are in middle/bottom. They are doing very good. No problems with LPS, Zoas and Montis. That's all I have so far. Only problems I have are light/software issues, nothing causing problems to corals though.

f3honda4me · 05/09/2012, 09:31 AM

75% is pretty high intensity for just having switched to radions. What were your lights before the radions and did you use a par meter to check before/after to make sure you were matching intensity?

I had to set my radions to 40% to match the par level of my 6 bulb T5 HO light system when I made the swap. If you have too high a jump in light, you'll get coral growth issues, etc.

gdubs97 · 05/09/2012, 11:34 AM

My zoas are bottom to a third the way up from the bottom. I have 2 radions 8" off of the surface.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beefy_Reefy

How many radions do you have? How far off water are the radions? Where are the zoas placement in tank? I have a 150g 5f long 2f w 2f h tank with 3 radions and my zoas are in middle/bottom. They are doing very good. No problems with LPS, Zoas and Montis. That's all I have so far. Only problems I have are light/software issues, nothing causing problems to corals though.

gdubs97 · 05/09/2012, 11:41 AM

I had 6 t5 lights before and I did a par meter check before and after. Par readings are lower with LEDs due to meter not reading all led colors. Sps is great and they are middle to top of tank but zoas.

I will call ecotech and see if they know of this issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by f3honda4me

75% is pretty high intensity for just having switched to radions. What were your lights before the radions and did you use a par meter to check before/after to make sure you were matching intensity?

I had to set my radions to 40% to match the par level of my 6 bulb T5 HO light system when I made the swap. If you have too high a jump in light, you'll get coral growth issues, etc.

gdubs97 · 05/10/2012, 09:49 PM

I spoke to Jon at radion and sent him my graph. He suggested increasing the intensity from 75% to 90%. I increased it to 80% and will increase it another 5%, reassess the "stringy zoas" and continue to increase.

EcoTech Service · 05/11/2012, 07:09 AM

I would recommend bumping it up another 5%, and then about 5-10% in another two weeks.

rovster · 05/14/2012, 07:58 AM

When I switched to LEDs (not Radion but it applies) my Zoas were a bit shocked and were spewing poop like crazy. After a few weeks they went back to normal. I think mine was a "too much light" issue. I think when they get long like that, they want more light, so I would listen to the advice above. If they start pooping, you know you've gone too far. GL!

gdubs97 · 05/14/2012, 07:22 PM

Will do. I just hope zoas last. Most are going bye bye.

michaelangello · 05/15/2012, 09:33 AM

Im having the exact same problem, mine is on 75% 12" from the water with my zoas at the bottom of 24" tank. I thought the intenisity was too high and thats what was causing the problem but ill put it up 5% and see what happens.

gdubs97 · 05/15/2012, 11:26 AM

Not really glad I'm not the only one, but at least it shows that I'm not crazy. I even have zoas that are only halfway down that are stringy and disappearing...I'm noticing the zoas are actually alot tinier as well. I think the small zoas is caused by LEDs somehow in general. my friend that I swap corals with has tiny zoas and they would always end up full when i put then under my old t5s. Of course he had LEDs and we just assumed LED lighting caused them to be so tiny. I like the look of the light but so far am not happy with how my corals have responded to radions/leds. I hope ( but don't think) the zoas rebound as I bring the intensity up.

gdubs97 · 05/29/2012, 07:36 AM

Up to 90% intensity as of last week and I'm finding alot of browned zoas. The zoas that became stringy are only getting worse. Im finding alot of asterina starfish on the zoas and when I pulled them off, the zoas gave off a brown/rust like fluid...alot of them are now brown and just look dirty and are not opening up. Any other advice?

mylifeismyown66 · 05/29/2012, 10:52 AM

If there are asterinas all over your zoas it could be them eating it. Ive never had this issue, but have heard many people have asterinas that eat their zoas.

AcroporAddict · 05/29/2012, 11:15 AM

I have a 30" x 30" x 24" cube that is LPS and zoas. Most of my zoas are on the bottom of the tank. I have two Radions over the tank set at a Max of 45% on Natural, and my zoas are doing great and growing. If I turn the intensity up any more my frogspawns and hammers start to bleach.

Usually, if zoas reach like that they need more light, so my situation seems the opposite of yours.

Can you post a pic of your light schedule? Maybe that is where the problem lies?

EcoTech Service · 05/30/2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdubs97

Im finding alot of asterina starfish on the zoas and when I pulled them off, the zoas gave off a brown/rust like fluid...alot of them are now brown and just look dirty and are not opening up. Any other advice?

I'd be willing to bet that the asterina stars are consuming your polyps... they are a known predator and unfortunately I speak from experience. I'd pick up a Harlequin Shrimp to take care of them.

Eastamherstbias · 05/30/2012, 10:51 PM

Yes, I had tons and they were killing my polyps. I picked up a harlequin and it cleaned up my tank in a month. I then returned him to the LFS.

gdubs97 · 06/12/2012, 09:04 PM

Just an updAte. Zoas have continued to decline amd disappear and at best they have become tiny. Very disappointed in how the zoas have reacted to the radions. On a side note I have been picking the asterinas out daily although everywhere I read it says they are harmless and it's a rare species of asterinas that actually might eat corals.

Im sure the radions or LEDs in general are the cause of my zoa decline. THe asterinas were there for 2 years prior with my t5s and zoas flourished. Levels are still the same. Only change has been adding radions. Maybe others have done well with zoas under radions but my tank has not and others I have spoken to have had the same outcome.

d2mini · 06/13/2012, 02:52 PM

Weird. My zoas did fantastic under the radions.

gdubs97 · 06/13/2012, 07:41 PM

Wish I could say the same

Eastamherstbias · 06/13/2012, 07:48 PM

Kill the asterinas with a h. Shrimp and you will see improvement. Picking them out wont solve it. You need a predator. If the zoanthids are damaged from the stars they may not recover. Once the stars are gone get a small frag and see if it grows.

gdubs97 · 06/13/2012, 11:05 PM

East,
I hear you. I'd be willing to try it, but I have a mystery wrasse. I still have one big cleaner shrimp left, but I doubt the harlequin shrimp would make it.

BigKahuna · 06/14/2012, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylifeismyown66

If there are asterinas all over your zoas it could be them eating it. Ive never had this issue, but have heard many people have asterinas that eat their zoas.

It's funny but I've had asterinas for a long time and they never seemed to bother my zoas. It is well known they do eat coraline algae and the way I set up my Radions put less light on the glass and reduced my coraline significantly on the back glass where they used to hang out and graze most. This is when I noticed the asterinas going after the otherwise very healthy looking zoas. I have a feeling if they don't get lots of their preferred diet they go after the polyps. Here are some I plucked out of the tank…

Here is one wrapped around a polyp…

I think most are probably benign but most of the ones I have aren't IMHO.

Eastamherstbias · 06/14/2012, 03:34 PM

So cute and so deadly!

BigKahuna · 06/14/2012, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eastamherstbias

So cute and so deadly!

Yeah the ones I have I nicknamed "Tiger Asterinas" because they have orange/red markings on them that look pretty cool but the way they go after the polyps is annoying.

fastrd400 · 06/14/2012, 06:00 PM

I'd venture to guess that your intensity is fine, but you are lacking in spectrum. I have literally thousands of zoa in my tank, with no ill effects at all. I have Tubbs Blues 10" from light source, and Black Hornts 32" from light source.

05/08/2012, 10:00 PM	#1
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Zoaroblems with new radions Title says it all. Lol should say "zoa problems" I have had them for about 2 months or so over my 120. I had a 6 light t5 prior and my tank was a zoa multiplier and was getting great growth on sps as well. I'm still getting great growth on my sps with my radions but he zoas are another story. I would say 80% of them have suffered. Most of them have exulted on the zoas becoming "long and strong like". I kno zoas sometimes come and go but I'm positive the radions have been the sole source of my zoas deteriorating. FYI I have intensity at 75%. Another buddy in my reef club has the lights and the same issue An ideas? Last edited by gdubs97; 05/08/2012 at 10:19 PM.

05/11/2012, 07:09 AM	#7
EcoTech Service Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 1,437	I would recommend bumping it up another 5%, and then about 5-10% in another two weeks. __________________ EcoTech Marine Customer Service For FAQs, troubleshooting advice and direct interaction with the EcoTech staff, visit http://community.ecotechmarine.com or contact us by e-mailing support@ecotechma

05/29/2012, 10:52 AM	#13
mylifeismyown66 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New Britain, CT Posts: 1,721	If there are asterinas all over your zoas it could be them eating it. Ive never had this issue, but have heard many people have asterinas that eat their zoas. __________________ Ryan Current Tank Info: CAD 39g Pro Mixed Reef SPS Heavy with Ecotech Radion LEDs running with AC Jr. 12g sump with SWC 120 cone skimmer & 40g frag tank system lit by Acan Prism LEDs

05/30/2012, 10:51 PM	#16
Eastamherstbias Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Williamsville, NY Posts: 1,644	Yes, I had tons and they were killing my polyps. I picked up a harlequin and it cleaned up my tank in a month. I then returned him to the LFS. __________________ 120g Mixed Reef w/ MP40 & 1x Radion Gen 2 & 1x Radion PROs Integrated Basement Sump w/ 40Br Sump/40Br SPS (Hybrid MOcc Pair)/40Br Peacock Mantis Tank/40Br Anemone Tanks (Platinum Pair)

06/13/2012, 02:52 PM	#18
d2mini Reefer Madness Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fulshear, TX Posts: 2,618	Weird. My zoas did fantastic under the radions. __________________ -dennis 325g Total Volume (180g display) Mixed Reef See my homepage for more tank info.

05/09/2012, 03:56 AM	#2
Beefy_Reefy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 264	How many radions do you have? How far off water are the radions? Where are the zoas placement in tank? I have a 150g 5f long 2f w 2f h tank with 3 radions and my zoas are in middle/bottom. They are doing very good. No problems with LPS, Zoas and Montis. That's all I have so far. Only problems I have are light/software issues, nothing causing problems to corals though.

05/09/2012, 09:31 AM	#3
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 770	75% is pretty high intensity for just having switched to radions. What were your lights before the radions and did you use a par meter to check before/after to make sure you were matching intensity? I had to set my radions to 40% to match the par level of my 6 bulb T5 HO light system when I made the swap. If you have too high a jump in light, you'll get coral growth issues, etc.

05/10/2012, 09:49 PM	#6
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	I spoke to Jon at radion and sent him my graph. He suggested increasing the intensity from 75% to 90%. I increased it to 80% and will increase it another 5%, reassess the "stringy zoas" and continue to increase.

05/14/2012, 07:58 AM	#8
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 2,770	When I switched to LEDs (not Radion but it applies) my Zoas were a bit shocked and were spewing poop like crazy. After a few weeks they went back to normal. I think mine was a "too much light" issue. I think when they get long like that, they want more light, so I would listen to the advice above. If they start pooping, you know you've gone too far. GL!

05/14/2012, 07:22 PM	#9
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Will do. I just hope zoas last. Most are going bye bye.

05/15/2012, 09:33 AM	#10
michaelangello Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 32	Im having the exact same problem, mine is on 75% 12" from the water with my zoas at the bottom of 24" tank. I thought the intenisity was too high and thats what was causing the problem but ill put it up 5% and see what happens.

05/15/2012, 11:26 AM	#11
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Not really glad I'm not the only one, but at least it shows that I'm not crazy. I even have zoas that are only halfway down that are stringy and disappearing...I'm noticing the zoas are actually alot tinier as well. I think the small zoas is caused by LEDs somehow in general. my friend that I swap corals with has tiny zoas and they would always end up full when i put then under my old t5s. Of course he had LEDs and we just assumed LED lighting caused them to be so tiny. I like the look of the light but so far am not happy with how my corals have responded to radions/leds. I hope ( but don't think) the zoas rebound as I bring the intensity up.

05/29/2012, 07:36 AM	#12
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Up to 90% intensity as of last week and I'm finding alot of browned zoas. The zoas that became stringy are only getting worse. Im finding alot of asterina starfish on the zoas and when I pulled them off, the zoas gave off a brown/rust like fluid...alot of them are now brown and just look dirty and are not opening up. Any other advice?

05/29/2012, 11:15 AM	#14
AcroporAddict Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 1,260	I have a 30" x 30" x 24" cube that is LPS and zoas. Most of my zoas are on the bottom of the tank. I have two Radions over the tank set at a Max of 45% on Natural, and my zoas are doing great and growing. If I turn the intensity up any more my frogspawns and hammers start to bleach. Usually, if zoas reach like that they need more light, so my situation seems the opposite of yours. Can you post a pic of your light schedule? Maybe that is where the problem lies?

06/12/2012, 09:04 PM	#17
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Just an updAte. Zoas have continued to decline amd disappear and at best they have become tiny. Very disappointed in how the zoas have reacted to the radions. On a side note I have been picking the asterinas out daily although everywhere I read it says they are harmless and it's a rare species of asterinas that actually might eat corals. Im sure the radions or LEDs in general are the cause of my zoa decline. THe asterinas were there for 2 years prior with my t5s and zoas flourished. Levels are still the same. Only change has been adding radions. Maybe others have done well with zoas under radions but my tank has not and others I have spoken to have had the same outcome.

06/13/2012, 07:41 PM	#19
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	Wish I could say the same

06/13/2012, 07:48 PM	#20
Eastamherstbias Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Williamsville, NY Posts: 1,644	Kill the asterinas with a h. Shrimp and you will see improvement. Picking them out wont solve it. You need a predator. If the zoanthids are damaged from the stars they may not recover. Once the stars are gone get a small frag and see if it grows. __________________ 120g Mixed Reef w/ MP40 & 1x Radion Gen 2 & 1x Radion PROs Integrated Basement Sump w/ 40Br Sump/40Br SPS (Hybrid MOcc Pair)/40Br Peacock Mantis Tank/40Br Anemone Tanks (Platinum Pair)

06/13/2012, 11:05 PM	#21
gdubs97 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Norwalk Posts: 399	East, I hear you. I'd be willing to try it, but I have a mystery wrasse. I still have one big cleaner shrimp left, but I doubt the harlequin shrimp would make it.

06/14/2012, 03:34 PM	#23
Eastamherstbias Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Williamsville, NY Posts: 1,644	So cute and so deadly! __________________ 120g Mixed Reef w/ MP40 & 1x Radion Gen 2 & 1x Radion PROs Integrated Basement Sump w/ 40Br Sump/40Br SPS (Hybrid MOcc Pair)/40Br Peacock Mantis Tank/40Br Anemone Tanks (Platinum Pair)

06/14/2012, 06:00 PM	#25
fastrd400 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Walnut Creek Posts: 1,355	I'd venture to guess that your intensity is fine, but you are lacking in spectrum. I have literally thousands of zoa in my tank, with no ill effects at all. I have Tubbs Blues 10" from light source, and Black Hornts 32" from light source.